Star Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan appears to have severed his professional ties with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars, making a powerful political statement following a major escalation in cross-border tensions.
On Saturday, the world’s premier T20 spinner removed the mention of Lahore Qalandars from his official X (formerly Twitter) profile bio. Until a few hours earlier, his bio had prominently featured four teams: the Afghanistan national side, the Gujarat Titans (IPL), the Adelaide Strikers (BBL), and the Lahore Qalandars (PSL). Now, only the first three remain.
This symbolic removal comes immediately after the Afghanistan government accused Pakistan of violating a 48-hour ceasefire and conducting deadly airstrikes in the Paktika province that reportedly killed multiple civilians, including at least three aspiring cricketers.
“Immoral and Barbaric”: Rashid Condemns Attacks
Rashid Khan had already voiced his outrage over the incident on social media, aligning himself unequivocally with his nation’s stance.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes on Afghanistan. A tragedy that claimed the lives of women, children, and aspiring young cricketers who dreamed of representing their nation on the world stage,” Rashid posted.
He further condemned the actions, stating, “It is absolutely immoral and barbaric to target civilian infrastructure… I welcome the ACB’s decision of withdrawing from upcoming fixtures against Pakistan. I stand with our people at this difficult time; our national dignity must come before all else.”
ACB Withdraws from Tri-Series
The cricketing escalation has mirrored the political one. In a decisive move in solidarity with the victims, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officially withdrew from the upcoming tri-series in Pakistan that was scheduled to also feature Sri Lanka.
Former captain Mohammad Nabi expressed that the loss of young athletes had shaken the entire cricket community, describing it as “not just a local tragedy but a national wound that would leave a lasting scar.” Fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi called the attacks “unforgivable.”
Rashid Khan’s association with Lahore Qalandars was highly successful, with the franchise winning back-to-back PSL titles in 2022 and 2023. His global popularity and magnetic appeal singlehandedly draw significant attention to any league he participates in. Should he formally pull out of future PSL seasons, the Pakistan Super League—which already faces tough competition for relevance against the IPL and BBL—would suffer a significant commercial and reputational blow. The move by one of the league’s biggest global stars marks the deepest intersection yet of geopolitics and franchise cricket in the region.